After an incredible Week 3, Week 4 gives the fans 16 more exciting games, the last time there will be 16 games until Week 12. It seems as though most teams needed the first two weeks of the season to get their offense playing in regular season form. Now we have a better idea of what each team and player is capable of going forward. Focusing on Week 4, here are the best starts and smart sits in fantasy football.
Start of the Week Quarterback – Russell Wilson vs Indianapolis Colts
After a career day in Week 3, Russell Wilson gets to return home to face a mediocre Colts defense. The Colts currently rank 12th in fantasy points per game to opposing quarterback. That number does not seem too high until you look at the quarterbacks the Colts have faced. The Colts have faced Deshone Kizer, Carson Palmer and Jared Goff, not necessarily the best-of-the-best in terms of fantasy production. The Colts are still giving up nearly 300 passing yards to those quarterbacks and are one of ten teams to allow a rushing touchdown to a quarterback. Look for Wilson to use his arm and legs to pick apart the Colts on Sunday night.
Sit of the Week Quarterback – Carson Wentz vs Los Angeles Chargers
As bad as the Chargers have been through the first three weeks of the season, they have been stingy against the pass. The Chargers are allowing the lowest number of passing attempts per game at just 27.33 on average. Wentz is averaging 7.0 yards per attempt this season. He likely will not get enough passing attempts this weekend to be a fantasy star as the Eagles will probably take a more run-orientated against a Chargers defense that gave up 189 rushing yards last week.
Start of the Week Running Back – Dalvin Cook vs Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions defense this season has been average against running backs, allowing 4.07 yards per carry, which ranks right around the middle of the league. They had faced the ninth fewest rushing attempts in the league. They are coming off their worst game against a running back when the Falcons Devonta Freeman scampered for over 100 yards and scored a touchdown. Cook should see a big workload in Week 4, to limit the Lions passing defense, which currently has eight sacks and eight interceptions. Look for Cook to touch the ball at least 20 times in Week 4 and have another great fantasy performance.
Sit of the Week Running Back – Christian McCaffrey vs New England Patriots
Christian McCaffrey showed in Week 3, why he was a first-round draft pick for the Carolina Panthers in 2017. The Stanford product caught nine passes for 101 yards and added another 16 yards on the ground. Right now he looks to be the most valuable offensive player, outside of Cam Newton, on the Panthers. The Patriots will game plan to stop McCaffrey and force the Panthers to throw the ball downfield. McCaffrey has not done much in the running game, averaging only 2.9 yards per attempt and the Panthers will need a better running game to limit Tom Brady. Expect Jonathan Stewart to be the better fantasy option on Sunday.
Start of the Week Wide Receiver – Pierre Garçon vs Arizona Cardinals
Coming off a monster game on Thursday night, Pierre Garçon is a great start again in Week 4. Last season versus the Arizona Cardinals, the veteran wide receiver caught seven of his nine targets for 78 yards. In his other two career games against the Cardinals, Garçon scored a touchdown. With the extra rest for the San Francisco 49ers and a short week for the Cardinals, Garçon is due for another big game.
Sit of the Week Wide Receiver – Amari Cooper vs Denver Broncos
Having spent his first two seasons with the Oakland Raiders, Amari Cooper is no stranger to the Denver Broncos. However, he is a stranger to having good fantasy games against the Broncos. The worst game of Cooper’s young career came against the Broncos when he was targeted eight times, yet failed to catch a single pass. In his other three games, he has done better but not by much. Leave Cooper on the bench in Week 4.
Start of the Week Tight End – Jesse James vs Baltimore Ravens
This would rank amongst the riskier starts of the week, but after seeing what Mercedes Lewis did last week against the Baltimore Ravens, there is some logic behind the decision. The Ravens have given up four touchdowns to tight ends this season, the most in the NFL. Jesse James is a great matchup tight end. In Week 1 against the Browns, he had two touchdowns. He could duplicate those numbers this week.
Sit of the Week Tight End – Rob Gronkowski
Just like the start of the week at this position, the sit of the week is likely to draw some ire from fans and fantasy owner, but sitting Gronkowski this week is justifiable. The Carolina Panthers are one the best teams in the NFL against tight ends. Through the first three weeks of the NFL, the team has given up a total of nine receptions and zero touchdowns to the position. It is best to damper expectations for Gronk this weekend.
Start of the Week Defense – Cincinnati Bengals vs Cleveland Browns
The Bengals are coming off their best team performance of the season, playing a highly competitive game against the Packers in Week 3, but eventually losing in overtime. The Bengals defense played well in Week 3, including picking off Aaron Rodgers and returning it for a touchdown, which is only the second time a team has done that to the former MVP. The Bengals get the Browns, who lead the NFL in turnovers and are tied for fourth in most sacks allowed. Start the Bengals on the road in Week 4.
Sit of the Week Defense – Carolina Panthers vs New England Patriots
To start the season, the Carolina Panther’s defense allowed just two field goals in the first two games and looked as good as it did in 2015 when the Panthers made the Super Bowl. Last week, at home against the Saints, the unit got exposed and returned to where it was in 2016, a great line-backing group who cannot make up for the deficiencies in the secondary. New England is averaging over 30 points per game this season, and Tom Brady just came off a five-touchdown performance. The Panthers may be able to slow Gronkowski this week they do not have enough to stop the rest of the weapons on the Patriots.
Start of the Week Kicker – Nick Folk vs New York Giants
Although we are just three weeks into the season, the New York Giants have already allowed fields of 61 and 56 yards to opponents. Nick Folk already has a season-long of 50 yards, which he did in Week 2 at home against the Bears. This looks to be one of the closer games going into Week 4, meaning field goals will play a fair bit into deciding the outcome. Putting Folk in your starting lineup this weekend is a smart play.
Sit of the Week Kicker –Greg Zuerlein vs Dallas Cowboys
In a game likely to be dictated by two running backs, the kicking game may be slow for both teams. The Dallas Cowboys have given up the third fewest points to kickers in fantasy this season, and in their first home game of the season, the team allowed just three points. Zuerlein has currently made all seven of his fields this season, but as a career 80% kicker, he is due for a miss. There are many better kicking options than Zuerlein for Week 4 of the NFL season.
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